Police investigating Hilo murder

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Big Island police have launched a murder investigation after the discovery of a body along the Bayfront Highway in Hilo.

Big Island police have launched a murder investigation after the discovery of a body along the Bayfront Highway in Hilo.

About 8:47 p.m. Saturday, police received a number of calls of possible gunshots heard in the area of Mooheau Park in Hilo. Responding officers discovered an unresponsive man with apparent gunshot wounds.

Police have positively identified the victim as 32 year-old Faafetai Fiu of Hilo.

The suspect in this investigation remains at large, police said.

The Bayfront Highway was closed to traffic from Pauahi Street to Waianuenue Avenue while Area I Criminal Investigations Section detectives responded and are continuing the investigation, which is classified as a second-degree murder. The highway is expected to remain closed throughout Sunday. Traffic is being routed onto Kamehameha Avenue into Downtown Hilo.

An autopsy is scheduled for Wednesday morning to determine the exact cause of death, police said.

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed this incident should contact Detective Robert Almeida at 961-2386 or Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2383. Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.